Early RAW #’s + CM Punk Tops ESPN’s WWE Power Rankings

Last night’s 4/1 WWE RAW drew an average audience of 4.30 million viewers. The first hour drew 4.03 million viewers, the second hour drew 4.40 million viewers and the third hour drew 4.48 million viewers.

This is down from last week’s show that drew an average audience of 4.61 million viewers. Despite the drop in viewers it remained the most viewed show on cable Monday night.

The final rating will be out shortly.

ESPN.com has updated their weekly WWE Power Rankings, giving the spot to CM Punk this week. Regarding CM Punk’s tactics against the Undertaker on RAW, author Jon Robinson wrote, “So good at being bad, it’s crazy to think of him as anything else but the best heel in the business. He’ll go to any lengths to make you hate him, and the way Raw ended, it just goes to show that WWE now realizes Punk/Undertaker is the most intriguing storyline heading into WrestleMania.”

Here’s this week’s Top 10 list:

1. CM Punk
2. Dolph Ziggler & Big E. Langston
3. The Rock
4. Ryback
5. Jack Swagger
6. Brock Lesnar
7. Triple H
8. Randy Orton, Sheamus & Big Show
9. The Shield
10. John Cena

Robinson gave his prediction for the WrestleMania 29 main event, stating, “No way the WWE is going to let the Rock beat its top star on the biggest card of the year in back-to-back WrestleManias. It’s just not going to happen.” He suggested a scenario where The Rock shows Cena respect after a hard fought match, but then they are beat down by a newly formed faction of CM Punk, Brock Lesnar & The Shield.

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